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Why Marriage Matters, Second Edition Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences
IN ALL TOO MANY communities in the United States, especially poor
and minority ones, marriage is in retreat. The statistics tell part of the
story. In 1960, 5 percent of children were born outside of wedlock.
Today, 34 percent of children are born outside of wedlock. In 1960,
more than 67 percent of adults were married. Today, fewer than 56 percent
of adults are married. As a consequence, American children are
much less likely to spend their entire childhood in an intact, married
family than they were 50 years ago. Likewise, men and women are less
likely than they were 50 years ago to get married as a young adult and
stay married. The bottom line is this: The institution of marriage has less
of a hold over American men, women, and children than it did earlier
in the last century.
These trends are even more dramatic in minority and lower income
communities. In 2002, 68 percent of African American births and 44
percent of Latino births were out of wedlock, compared to 29 percent
of white births. Similarly, although only about 5 percent of collegeeducated
mothers have children out of wedlock, approximately 25
percent of mothers without a high school degree have children outside
marriage.1 Most of the women in the latter group hail from low-income
families. African Americans and men and women without college
degrees are also significantly more likely to divorce than their Anglo
college-educated peers.2
The changes that have swept over American families in the last two
generations have inspired a large body of social scientific research and
a growing number of marriage education programs aimed at better
preparing couples for marriage and better equipping couples with the
knowledge, values, and skills required for successful marriage in
today’s world. This report, the second edition of Why Marriage
Matters, is an attempt to summarize the research into a succinct form
Why Marriage Matters
Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences
Introduction
useful to Americans on all sides of ongoing family debates — to report
what we know about the importance of marriage for our families and
for our society.
What does the social science tell us? In addition to reviewing research
on family topics covered in the first edition of the report, this report
highlights five new themes in marriage-related research.
and minority ones, marriage is in retreat. The statistics tell part of the
story. In 1960, 5 percent of children were born outside of wedlock.
Today, 34 percent of children are born outside of wedlock. In 1960,
more than 67 percent of adults were married. Today, fewer than 56 percent
of adults are married. As a consequence, American children are
much less likely to spend their entire childhood in an intact, married
family than they were 50 years ago. Likewise, men and women are less
likely than they were 50 years ago to get married as a young adult and
stay married. The bottom line is this: The institution of marriage has less
of a hold over American men, women, and children than it did earlier
in the last century.
These trends are even more dramatic in minority and lower income
communities. In 2002, 68 percent of African American births and 44
percent of Latino births were out of wedlock, compared to 29 percent
of white births. Similarly, although only about 5 percent of collegeeducated
mothers have children out of wedlock, approximately 25
percent of mothers without a high school degree have children outside
marriage.1 Most of the women in the latter group hail from low-income
families. African Americans and men and women without college
degrees are also significantly more likely to divorce than their Anglo
college-educated peers.2
The changes that have swept over American families in the last two
generations have inspired a large body of social scientific research and
a growing number of marriage education programs aimed at better
preparing couples for marriage and better equipping couples with the
knowledge, values, and skills required for successful marriage in
today’s world. This report, the second edition of Why Marriage
Matters, is an attempt to summarize the research into a succinct form
Why Marriage Matters
Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences
Introduction
useful to Americans on all sides of ongoing family debates — to report
what we know about the importance of marriage for our families and
for our society.
What does the social science tell us? In addition to reviewing research
on family topics covered in the first edition of the report, this report
highlights five new themes in marriage-related research.
- GenresMarriageRelationships
43 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 1, 2017
Good concise social book. We need similar conclusions and study in Arab world.
"MARRIAGE IS more than a private emotional relationship. It is also a social good. Not every person can or should marry. And not every child raised outside of marriage is damaged as a result. Marriage is not a cure-all that will solve all of our social problems."
"MARRIAGE IS more than a private emotional relationship. It is also a social good. Not every person can or should marry. And not every child raised outside of marriage is damaged as a result. Marriage is not a cure-all that will solve all of our social problems."
September 8, 2014
5 stars for the 3rd edition, "Thirty Conclusions..."
Want to read
July 28, 2020Recommended by meaning of marriage
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February 7, 2017An important study that deserves attention from all areas of society, especially those in the area of public policy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews